Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
4.5(977)google
4.2(11)yelp
MusicHistory
Overview
Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium is a historic performance and meeting venue at 705 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is an Art Deco building constructed between 1926 and 1929 during the administration of Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas as a memorial to the servicemen of World War I. In 1991, the auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on October 6, 2008, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The building also became a contributing property of Shreveport Commercial Historic District when its boundaries were increased on May 16, 1997.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeExcellent year-round, with the specialized evening historic guided tour slots (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Fridays or Saturdays) being the absolute pinnacle. Erected in 1929 as a National Historic Landmark, this auditorium is the cradle of rockabilly where Elvis Presley debuted. Touring the historic backstage vaults at night is profoundly moving.
Getting ThereSituated downtown at 701 Grand Avenue. Drivers can utilize the large, free public angled parking bays lining both sides of Grand Avenue right in front of the venue facade. For public transit, ride the SporTran Route 1, 2, or 5 bus directly to the Milam Street at Grand Ave stop, leaving a 1-minute walk to the art deco brick portal.
Travel Tips
- No open public walk-ins are permitted; accessing the historic stage where Elvis performed requires booking licensed, historical guided tours weeks ahead.
- During live concerts, a strict cashless policy and a maximum 6x9 inch non-clear bag size limitation are legally operational at all gate turnstiles.
- The landmark auditorium's historic elevators feature severely reduced weight capacities and move slowly; checking bulk hard cases is mandatory.
Reviews
Positive
- This Art Deco municipal auditorium, a National Historic Landmark, is grand; it witnessed Elvis Presley's iconic early career debut, packing massive historic romance.
- The theater's acoustics and lighting stage setup are professional and high-end; watching a live rock concert or theatrical play from the classic seats packs immense impact.
- Joining their scheduled historic guided tours is highly recommended; the docents provide deep insights into the 'Louisiana Hayride' radio show and pop-star anecdotes.
- Conveniently central with great accessibility; a giant bronze Elvis statue stands outside, serving as an unmissable landmark stop for music buffs and photographers.
Heads up
- As an authentic 1920s historic structure, row spacing between seats is designed very narrow; taller patrons will find their knees digging into the front backrest, causing discomfort.
- Dedicated parking lots nearby are limited; right before major evening concert curtain times, surrounding one-way streets fall into heavy traffic gridlocks, making parking hard.
- During intermission or egress, lobby restroom capacity suffers a severe shortage; the ladies' room lines stretch long meters, leaving custodial clearing efficiency lagging.
- The building stays locked during regular off-event weekdays; casual walkthroughs are barred, meaning you'll only view the bricks if you didn't pre-book a guided tour online.